Utsav Educational and Cultural Society will present ‘Nritya Moha’, an Odissi dance recital by the disciples of Guru Ranjana Gauhar, on Sunday, March 16, at the C.D. Deshmukh Auditorium, India International Centre, from 11:00 AM to 1:00 PM. Dr Sonal Mansingh, a classical dancer and former Rajya Sabha member, will attend as the Chief Guest.
Before the recital, a seminar titled ‘Odissi at the Crossroads’ will be held from 9:45 AM to 10:45 AM, discussing the evolution of Odissi dance. The panel will include Madhavi Mudgal, speaking on choreography; Sharon Lowen, discussing the role of literature in Odissi; Jyoti Srivastava, focusing on changes in musical traditions; and Kavita Dwivedi, addressing training techniques and their impact on performance. The session will be moderated by Dr Sonal Mansingh and followed by a Q&A session. The event is supported by the Ministry of Culture, Government of India.
The recital will include performances by Swati Sharma, Urjaswi Dutta, Archisha Arya, Shambhavi Gupta, and Lavanya Chugh. The program will begin with Maatra Bhoomi Mangalacharan, an invocation dedicated to Mother Earth. Urjaswi Dutta will perform Radha Rani, depicting Radha’s dance with Krishna. Shambhavi Gupta will present Shankarabaranam Pallavi, showcasing a progression from simple to complex movements. Lavanya Chugh will perform Sangini Re Chahan, portraying Krishna’s beauty as described by poet Banmali Das. The recital will conclude with Archisha Arya’s performance of Vishweshwara, a piece about a devotee’s journey to Kashi in search of Lord Vishweshwar’s blessings.
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Guru Ranjana Gauhar said that the recital reflects the Guru-Shishya Parampara, where students train under the guidance of their teacher. The event will showcase different aspects of Odissi dance, combining traditional themes with choreographic expression.
When: March 16; 11:00 AM to 1:00 PM
Where: C.D. Deshmukh Auditorium, India International Centre, New Delhi
